Personal data usage and privacy considerations in the COVID-19 global pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• Data Governance

Background:

• COVID-19 crisis highlighted data's value for scientists and health authorities.
• Difficulties in diagnosing COVID-19 spurred digital technology initiatives for public health surveillance.
• Tracking symptoms, contacts, and movements became crucial for infection monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the ethical, legal, and technical challenges of using personal data for public health surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To underscore the necessity of robust data governance models for managing health data.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data collection, processing, sharing, and usage in public health initiatives.
• Review of ethical, legal, and technical considerations surrounding digital health technologies for disease surveillance.

Main Results:

• Digital technologies are widely used for tracking public health data related to COVID-19.
• Significant ethical, legal, and technical questions arise concerning the collection and use of personal health data.
• Existing data governance models are insufficient for addressing these challenges.

Conclusions:

• New models for responsible and transparent data and technology governance are essential for controlling SARS-COV2.
• Effective governance is crucial for future public health emergencies and managing sensitive health information.